MILLETS AND OTHER ANNUAL GRASSES 295 



less so as it approaches maturity. It is not known ever 

 to cause any ill effects either on horses or on other 

 animals. 



The yields are large when there is ample moisture. 

 At the Massachusetts Experiment Station it has produced 

 as high as 6 tons of hay per acre and seed yields of 67 

 bushels per acre. 



359. Broom-corn millet (Panicum miliaceum) is of 

 prehistoric cultivation in Europe as indicated by seeds 

 found in Switzerland and Italy with human remains of the 

 stone age. It was probably even more ancient in central 

 Asia, in which region it appears to be native. 



The cultivated plant is sometimes divided into three 

 botanical varieties : effusum with loose panicles ; con- 

 tractum with the panicles denser above ; and compactum 

 with dense panicles. 



The numerous agricultural varieties are distinguished 

 primarily by the panicles, secondarily by the color of the 

 glumes which may be red, black or white. 



Broom-corn millet is cultivated largely in Europe, 

 especially in Russia and throughout temperate Asia. 

 It is invariably grown as a cereal crop, but to some 

 extent is used as forage. In America it has been grown 

 most in the Dakotas and Manitoba, though it is well 

 adapted to a large portion of the West, and fairly well to 

 the East. 



From a forage standpoint, broom-corn millet is not as 

 desirable as the foxtail millets, the yield being less as a 

 rule and the stems more woody and less leafy. For seed- 

 production they are, however, at least as good as the fox- 

 tail millets. 



The culture of broom-corn millet is essentially the same 

 as that of foxtail millet. 



